CES Spotlight blog posts shine a light on youth sector programs and initiatives in Ontario that are undertaking an evaluation journey in collaboration with YouthREX’s Customized Evaluation Supports (CES) at one of our regional hubs across Ontario. The blog posts describe the programs and initiatives and how evaluation supports their objectives to improve youth wellbeing.

First launched in 2004, and published three times a year, each issue of Shameless entertains and inspires with profiles of amazing women and trans people.

MISSIONShameless is an independent Canadian voice for smart, strong, sassy young women and trans youth. It’s a fresh alternative to typical teen magazines, packed with articles about arts, culture and current events, reflecting the neglected diversity of their readers’ interests and experiences. Grounded in principles of social justice and anti-oppression, Shameless aims to do more than just publish a magazine: they aim to inspire, inform, and advocate for young women and trans youth.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMShameless understands that many of the obstacles faced by young women and trans youth lie at the intersection of different forms of oppression, based on race, class, ability, immigration status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. As a grassroots magazine, they are committed to supporting and empowering young writers, editors, designers and artists, especially those from communities that are underrepresented in the mainstream media.

“Shameless strives to practice and develop an inclusive feminism.”

– Shameless Magazine

In addition to publishing an online and print magazine, Shameless also facilitates a youth advisory board.

“It’s been several years since we undertook a survey of our readers to learn more about who and where they are, and we’d love some support in designing a survey and reaching youth across Canada.”

– Shameless Magazine

Why Customized Evaluation Supports?

Having undertaken surveys as a means of evaluation in the past and finding the process frustrating, Shameless Magazine decided to partake in YouthREX’s CES process to make their surveys easier to understand and manage.

We’re excited to share that Shameless has completed a full evaluation journey with YouthREX, moving through the seven steps of our framework to Learning from Evidence: External Communication.

“The Youth Advisory Board we’ve just launched has 18 youth who are all Toronto based who will be advising us on the quality of the magazine. It would be great to have some guidance on what to ask them and how to work with that…and we’re paying the youth for their time so that they’re not just volunteers.”